Shock absorber



E. F. RossMAN SHOCK ABSORBER July 20, 1948.

Filed 001'.. l, 1946 TTRNEYS Patented July 20, `1948 SHOCK ABsoRBER Edwin F. Rossmann,V Dayton,l Ohio, assigner to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation ci Delaware Application October 1, 1946, Serial No.1 700,414

(Cl. 18S-88) Gleim.,

Tnis. invention relates tor improvements, lnvv hy-A draulic shock absorbers, especa1ly-of the double, direct acting type.

It is. among the objects. of the. presentY invention tor provide a double, directY acting hydraulic shock absorber ot simple design andi sturdy struc.- ture in which such fluidi controlV device which; if changed, will alter the control characteristics of the shock absorber, arev all availablefrom the outside of the shock absorber, thus eliminating the necessity. of dismantling the shock' absorber in order to make .said changes.

One manner of accomplishing the. above object is to use an imperforate piston andv place. theV fluid flow control Valves usually used: in tl'xeiVV shock absorber piston in'. another part' of:A the'. shock absorber sothat. said valves areeeaslly.A accessible from the outside of the-shock` absorber.

Further objectsiand advantagesof' the present invention will be apparent from. the following: description, reference being had to. the accom panying drawing, wherein a preferred embodlt-fv ment of the present invention is clearlyY shown;

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal" sectional View ot the. shock absorber taken` along the line and'. in the. direction of arrows I-f of'Fig. 2. Certain parts are shown inelevation for the salient? clearness;

Fig. 2 is a transversesectonali View takenalongthe line and. in the direction ofi tireV arrow 2-25 provided' a closure: member 2l having; atl leastk three annular portions of differenti diameters. Thev smallestI diameter: portion of. thel closureA member 2lv is pressifttedfinto the oneend-o-vf tbe workingk cylinderv y2i!Y which abuts. against-.- the' shoulder providedlbetween this smallest diameterV portion and an intermediate diameter pertirui.Y of the. closure member 2,Ig which is; press-tted. into the tubular member- 22- concentricallysur.- rounding the; cylinder 2U and. forming the..y arrnular space'23 betweenfthecylinder and: said.- tube 22;.. The largest diameterrportlon, or the closure.:

member '2t is threadedto.V be received by the interiorly` threaded end..y ofA the; tubular member 2t:y This twbularmember .24;r termsy there annular.'

2 space 25, hereinafter termed the "ilud reservoir, around theV tubular member 22. The space 2*;3, will' be referred to hereinafter as theVv iluid conduit.

Tubular member 24 has an inner annular shoulder upon which rests the abutment'. ring' I6 which engages. a sealing ring 21 and urges it into sealing. engagement with a. tapered surface of the. closure member 2 I and the. interior of the. tubular, member 24 wheny the. closure member. is screwed into the tubular member 24, thus.. sealing ,the shock absorber against leaks; at this. point.

A. central opening inthe closure member 2l slidably supports the piston shaft 3U which ex tends to the exterior of. the shock^ absorber` through a packing 3.1 secured in a recess in` the outer. end'surface of the closure member.` 21. A disc 3E is securedt'o the. piston rodll outsldetheshock absorber; said.E disc. 32 having one end otv the tubular member" 533i secured thereto in any suitable manner preferably by.welding,.this tubel 33 telescopicallysurrounding: tube. 24 and form*- ing av dust andi dist shieldV for the shook` abal sorber.

A valvev cage. 4S: is press-tted. into. the end: of,` the cylinder 2d oppositetl'ie closure` member 2li- Thisvalve. cage has ar central opening tlf sure` roundedbyani annularridge 42 on. the sideiot the valve. cage adjacentthe interior of. the cylinder,- said ridge forming a seat engaged by the intake-r valvelia.' under. the inu'ence of'V spring fingers 441 formed on a. ring secured within the Valve. cage byV the spun-over portion 4,5.

A valve block 50 ts about: and is mmovablyA Isecured at theA end of' cylinder 2d adjacent the valve cage, one portion. of:l saidblock being, spun over as at 5I' to secure. the ralye-.cageirr the. end of the cylinder 2l); This block provides chambers for all of. the iluidv flow control valves.r

on the shock absorber excepting:- the intake vali/e413 of the cylinder; It also provides a group. oi passages design-ated by the numeral 52 which; forms communicatioI-isv between the annular reservolr space 25 and the lower reservoir space 53 formed by the insert plate 54 press-fitted intol an. annular recess in the lower-most portion oi the block Eil. Thus it- `mayV be seen. that` thev intake valve 43 and-l its` controlled. opening. Il

in the valve. cage are in. commurncationzwithrthe" reservoir portion 53 which, throughtheZ passages 52 in the block 50, is in communication with the annular reservoir space 2-5;

As shown irl-Figi. l, piston Eilimperferateel` 1 with the" exceptionef aacentralf Orem-ne. dividesfi the cylinder 20 into two working chambers, namely, the upper working chamber and the lower working chamber 02. This piston 60 has a reduced diameter portion of the piston rod 30 extending therethrough and is secured to said rod by a nut 03 threaded upon said reduced diameter portion. Thus when assembled on the piston rod, the piston 60 is in eiect imperforate.

A recess in the block 50 receives the one end of the tubular member 22 so as to maintain its concentricity with the cylinder 20 and a larger diameter recess in block 50 receives the one end of the tubular member 24 to hold it in proper concentricity with the tubular member 22. The space 23 between the cylinder 20 and the tubular member 22 is in communication with a space 04 formed between the cylinder 20 and an adjacent annular wall in block 50. Thus spaces 23 and 64 in communication with each other are referred to hereinafter jointly as the fluid conduit. Four annular recesses are formed in the block 50.. The first annular recess in block 50 is designated by the numeral |00, this recess providing a shoulder |0| which forms a valve seat normally engaged by the spring loaded valve E02. A 'threaded plug |03 is threadedly received by the recess |00. This threaded plug acts as an abutment for one end of a spring |04 while the other end of the spring engages the valve |02 and urges it into engagement with the valve seat shock absorber in communication with valve chamber |00. In Figs. 2 and 4 it may clearly be seen that a passage |06, formed by aligned openings in the block 50 andthe cylinder 20, provides communication between the valve chamberV |00 and the lower working chamber 02 ofr shock absorber. Consequently valve |02 is now recognized as a fluid flow controlling device normally shutting off communication between chambers 6| and 62, but adapted to respond to a predetermined fluid' pressure within the chamber 0| as the piston 60 moves to discharge iiuid therefrom for establishing arfluid flow from said rod containing chamber 0|, through the openings 65, fluid conduit 23-04, passage |05, past valve |02 thence through the valve chamber |00 and duct |00 into the lower working chamber 02.

Due to the presence of the piston rod 30 in the.

discharging chamber 0|, an insuicient amount of fluid will be forced from chamber 6| to satisfy the capacity of the lower chamber 62 resulting in a pressure differential between chambers 62 and 53, thereby causing valve 43 to be lifted from its valveseat 42 against the Veffect of the spring ngers 44 to establish a substantially unrestricted flow of uid from the reservoir 03, opening 4|, to valve chamber 53 into the lower working chamber 62 of this cylinder.

In the claims the intake valve 43 has been referred toas the second valve of the shock absorber and thus the valve of the shock absorber, contained within the recess 300 in the block 50, will be considered the third valve. This recess 300 presents a valve seat 30| against which valve 3021s yieldably urged by spring 303 interposed 4. between said valve and a plug 304 threadedly received into the outer end of the recess or valve chamber 300. This valve chamber 300 is in communication with the lower working chamber 62 through a duct 305 formed by aligned openings in the cylinder 20 and block 50. Valve chamber 300 has two outlet ports, the one designated by the numeral 301 leading into the recess or valve chamber 400in the block 00, the other designated by the numeral 308 leading into the recess or valve chamber 500. Thus, the one outlet port 301 of the valve chamber 300 becomes the inlet port for valve chamber 400 and the other outlet port 308 of valve chamber 300 becomes the inlet port for the valve chamber 500 Inlet port 301 is surrounded by an annular ridge presenting a valve seat against 'which a disc valve 40| is yieldably urged by a spring 402 interposed between said valve and the screw plug 403 threadedly received in the outer end of the valve chamber 400. Inlet port 308 of the valve chamber 500 is also surrounded with an annular ridge providing a valve seat yieldably engaged by the disc valve 50| under the effect of a spring 502 interposed between said valve and screw plug 503 threadedly received by the outer end of valve chamber 500. The spring 502 is of comparatively lighter construction than the spring 402, thus a lighter or lesser fluid pressure is required to move valve 50| from its seat'I than that required to move valve 40| from its seat. ValveV chamber 400 is in communication with the reservoir 25 through one of the reservoir passages 52 in the block 50. The valve chamber 500 is in communication with the fluid conduit 23-64 by outletV duct 500 in block 50. Y' When installed on an automobile, the present shock absorber'ls intended to control approaching and separating movements of the frame and axle of the vehicle. The shock absorber body, that is the portion to which block 50 is secured, may be anchored to the axle of the vehicle while the shock absorber piston rod 30 maybe secured to the frame of the vehicle. Thuswhen the frame and axle of the vehicle move to approach each other, the shock absorber piston, isurged downwardly in its cylinder as regardsY Fig.; 1, towards the intake valve 43. Due to this downward movement of the piston 00,*pressure will be exerted upon the fluid within the lower working chamber 62 thereby assisting springj fingers 44 to urge the valve 43 upon its' seat 42.` As .soon

as the pressure in chamber 62 reaches a predetermined value, the uid in passage 305, acting against the valve 302 will move said valve against the effect of its spring 303 to disengage seat 30| and thereby establish a restricted 'flowof iluid into the valve chamber 300. It has been Vstated heretofore that valve chamber 300 has two outlet ports, namely, 301and 308, the former leading into the valve chamber 400, the latter into the valve chamber 500. Thus, outlet port 301 of valve chamber 300, now becomes the inlet port for valve chamber 400 Vcontrolled by thevspring loaded valve 40|, and outlet port 300 of v alve chamber 300 becomes the inlet port for valve chamber '500 controlled by the spring loaded valve 50|. It has also been stated that valve 50| is loaded with a lighter springv 502 'than valve 40| which is' loaded' by a heavier spring40'2 andv consequently at -a predetermined low pressure within the valve chamber 300 due to the-flow of fluid from the low working chamber past valve 302, valve 50| will be first movedV from its scatto -establish a flow from chamber 300 through the.. port 3918 rast. valve .5B-l into the chamber` Elm thence through the outlet, port 5.415: into. the. fluid conduit. IE5+-23, opening, E52 .in the. cylinder into the. upper or-rod containing work.- ing chamber .6.1 of the cylinder, Due te the pres,- ence or the piston rod 3.3; in the upper working chamber Si. alll fluid discharged from the lower working chamber-'62 cannoty be received by said upperchamber and consequently iuiel displaced bythe piston. rod 3b, will result in an increase in pressure within the valve chamberI 30B: which,l when reaching a predetermined value, will act through port 30?; against valve del to. lift it and. thereby establish a second flow from the valve` chamber Sim through the port 39.7 past; valveF del into the valve chamber 'den thence through one of the, passages 52 in communication with said. valve chamberr to the reservoirv 25. The restric-i tion to. the ow of iiuidA offered. byvaljve 332, causes the shock absorber? vto provide resistance to the; approaching movement .between the two. relativelymoving members between which it. is conr-iected and-thus this movement will. be conf. trolled. i

When saidr relatively movable members separate due tothe rebound action of the suspension springs between the vehicle frame and axle, a reverse movement of the piston obtains, that-wis, the piston will be moved upwardly in the cylinder as regards Fig, 1 away from the intake valve 43. Now pressure @sorted upon the fluid within the upper working chamber El forcing said fluid this chamber through, openings 6.5, fiuid conduit 2li- 64, past valve |02 into valve chamber and. than through its. discharge passage |06 into the lower working `chamber t2. As has been stated, insufficient fluid'is. discharged from the.k upper working chamber vii i. completely to fill the lower working chamber 62 and consequently a replenishing or intake valve 43 will be moved from its seat to establish a fluid replenishing flow into the lower working chamber 62 from the reservoir portion 53.

From the aforegoing it will be seen that applicant has provided a double, direct acting hydraulic shock absorber of simple design and sturdy structure in which fluid control devices providing restriction to fluid flow are so constructed and arranged that each one is available from the exterior of the shock absorber so that in case it is desired to change valves in order to alter the control characteristics of the shock absorber it will be unnecessary to dismantle the entire shock absorber. No control valves are included in the piston as in the usual case and thus it is unnecessary to get to the piston by tearing down the whole shock absorber in order to make alterations. Due to the fact that all valves, excepting the replenishing valve 43, are accessible from the exterior of the shock absorber, alterations in valves to vary shock absorber control characteristics may be made without disassembling the device as has been previously necessary.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An hydraulic shock absorber having a cylinder provided with an end through which a rod slidably extends, said rod having a piston attached thereto which divides the cylinder into two working chambers; a fluid containing reservoir; and a plurality of valves for controlling iiuid new ce the piston" is roeinroccted in .one

direction or the, other, certain of said valves, beine operative br duid pressure as the.- piston moves te force fluid from the rod containing; work-ine chamber, .to establish separate fluid new from said rod containing chamber andV from. the. reservoir into the other working chamber, an..- otber of said valvesr .beine operative by iluid pressure in seid other chamber as. the. piston. mores. to. discharge fluidt therefrom. to establish. a fluid flow which is directed against two valves.v one oi'. which is operativa at. a predetermined; pressure.A to establish a dow into the, rod con taining chamber. the second being oneratirc at. a coincerannals nicher iluld pressure to. establish a new into the; iiuuiv reservoir..

2'.. lnan hydraulic shoes absorber, the oom..- bination withY a fluid. containing reservoir in. communication. with. a cylinder divided inta two working chambers by a. solid piston actuated br a. rod extending through `one. worlginschamber: an expansion chamber having two ralved; outlet; ports, a pluialitrV or Spring loaded valres' for: controlling huid new; two.- of said valves. beine; operated as the, piston. mores to. displace. fluid from the rod containing working chamber, one, to. establish a flow from said rod containing chamber into the other.` working chamber, `the second valve.. to establish a flow .from the leservoir intesa-id other; working. chamber, a third valve being operative aslthefpistonmoiles in tha Opposite; direction tcdischaraefiuid trein saidzvother working chamber, to. establish a. now into the. expansion chamber having the. said twd. valved. outletzports.; and the fourth and nfth vvalves. controlling fluid?, noirthrough. the outletnorts ci; said expansion. chamber, the, rourthralve. at a Certain fluid,ureasnre, establishing; a. fiowinto the rod containing; chamber, the fifth valve.. at, a comparatively higher fluid pressure, establishing a flow from said expansion chamber into the reservoir.

3. In an hydraulic shock absorber, the combination with a fluid containing reservoir in communication with a cylinder divided into two working chambers by a solid piston actuated by a rod extending through one working chamber; of a plurality of valve chambers, each provided with inlet and outlet ports, the inlet port of each valve chamber being normally closed by a spring loaded valve, the inlet port and outlet ports of the rst valve chamber communicating respectively with the rod containing and the second working chambers, the inlet and outlet ports of the second valve chamber communicating respectively with the reservoir and second working chamber, the inlet port of the third chamber communicating with the second working chamber, said third chamber having two outlet ports which form the inlet ports of the fourth and fifth valve chambers the outlet ports of the fourth and fifth valve chambers communicating respectively with the rod containing working chamber and the reservoir and the valve in the fourth chamber being operative to open at a lower fluid pressure than the valve in the fifth chamber.

4. An hydraulic shock absorber comprising in combination, a working cylinder having a closure member at its one end and a valve cage at its other end; a block surrounding the cylinder adjacent the valve cage; two tubular members concentrically supported between the closure member and block, one tubular member forming a fluid conduit around the cylinder, said passage being in constant communication with the rod containing .working chamber, the" other forming a fluid reservoir; an Aimperforate pistonin the cylinder .dividing it into two working chambers, said piston being attached to a rodY extending through one working chamber and the closure member; a check valve in the valvercage, operative when the piston moves to force fluid from the rodcontaining chamber, to open communication between the other working chamber and the reservoir; valve chambers in the block, each provided with fluid inlet and outlet ports, each chamber having ai closure plug accessible from outside the shock absorber; a valve in each valve chamber yieldably closing the inlet port thereof, the inlet and outlet ports of one valve chamber communicating respectively with the fluid conduit and the other working chamber, another of said valve chambers having its inlet port communicating with said other working chamber and having also two outlet ports which form the inlet ports of two other valve chambers, one of which opens to the fluid conduit, the second to the reservoir, the valve closing the port leading to the uid conduit requiring less pressure to open it than the valve Vclosing the port leading to the reservoir.

5. An hydraulic shock absorber comprising in combination, a working cylinder having a closure member at its one end and a valve cage at its other end; a block Vsurrounding the cylinder adjacent the valve cage; two tubular members concentrically supported between the closure member and block, one tubular member forming a fluid conduit Aaround the cylinder, said conduit being in constant communication with the rod containing working chamber, the other tubular member forming a fluid reservoir; an imperforate piston in the cylinder dividing it into two working chambers, said piston being attached to 8f a rod extending through one working" chamber and the closure member; a check valve in the valve cage, operative when the piston moves to force fluid from the rod containing chamber, to open communication between the other working chamber and the reservoir; valve chambers in the block, each provided with fluid inlet and outlet ports, each chamber having a closure plug accessible from outside the shock absorber; a valve in each valve chamber yieldably closing the inlet port thereof, the inlet and outlet ports of one valve chamber communicating respectively with the fluid conduit and the othenworking chamber, another of said valve chambers having its inlet port communicating with said other working chamber and having also two outlet ports, each one of which opens into a separate valve chamber and forms the' inlet port for said chamber, the outlet port of the one leading to the uid conduit and the outlet port of the other, leading to the reservoir, the valve closing the inlet port of the chamber communicating with the iiuid conduit responding first to iuid pressure to establish a flow through the conduit into the rod containing working chamber, the valve closing the outlet port leading to the reservoir being operative to establish its flow in response to higher` iuid pressure caused by fluid displaced by the piston rod. f

EDWIN F. ROSSMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: Y

` UNITED STATES PATENTS Y Number Name Date 2,025,199 Funston Dec. 24, 1935 

